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Things to do, see and taste in Sydney before you die

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As you may have heard by now, I am about to leave Sydney for a while to pursue an expat life in our new home country of Spain. Who knows, we might come back soon, but in the meantime there will be new places to explore and new experiences to be had.

Since my mind is currently totally preoccupied with the bitter-sweet feeling of saying goodbye to this wonderful city I asked some of my most favourite Australian travel bloggers about ‘their’ most favourite things to do, eat and see in the city.

Their responses were amazing! No matter whether scenic flights, cool brunch ideas or refreshing nature walks, I now feel inspired to explore Sydney one more time before leaving for Europe. Have a look!

Thanks to all bloggers who have contributed to this post. For further information and inspiration please make sure you check out their websites!

Panoramic Flights – The Crowded Planet

Margherita: “I think Sydney is one of the most beautiful cities on the world. Its position is just stunning – the city is built in a natural harbour, it’s full of really lovely bays and beaches and the weather most of the times is just perfect. I believe one of the coolest things to do in Sydney is taking a panoramic flight over the city, to enjoy Sydney from a different perspective.

Last year we went on a panoramic flight with Red Baron, a flying school based out of Bankstown airport. We couldn’t do the panoramic flight over the harbour but still had an amazing time flying around the city and then all the way down to Wollongong, enjoying stunning views over the city and cliffs of the South Coast.

If you’re a real adrenaline junkie, Red Baron also organises aerobatics flights – my husband went on one and it was one of the most thrilling experiences of his life!”

The Chinese Garden of Friendship – The Trusted Traveller

Jen: “Sydney’s Chinese Garden of Friendship is tucked away in Sydney between Chinatown and Tumbalong Park. The walled garden was opened in 1988 to celebrate Australia’s Bicentenary.

This garden oasis was built true to traditional Chinese ways of landscaping. During the build, Taoist principles such as ‘Yin-Yang’ and elements earth, fire, water, metal and wind were strongly followed creating a space that is in perfect harmony, balance and provides a nurturing environment.

Entering the garden, you instantly start to relax and feel yourself become immersed in the beautiful and tranquil surroundings. As you walk around, the sounds of trickling water and a light breeze in the weeping trees blocks out most of the city sounds that surround the garden. If you’re lucky you might encounter a water dragon or two roaming the pathways and basking in the dappled sunlight.”

Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk – Solo Passport

Raksha: “Sydney is known for its amazing beaches and the coastal walk around these beaches. One of my favourite walks in Sydney is the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk. The walk is a famous 6 km coastal walk in Sydney and is ranked as one of the best coastal walks in Sydney. It offers six sections of different views and experiences and is graded as a medium walk. The views of the ocean are spectacular and refreshing.

The walk starts at Sydney’s most happening Bondi beach and passes through Tamarama, Bronte and Clovely beaches before reaching the Coogee beach. A part of the walk is through cemetery, which has some historic tombs.”

Seeing a Show at the Sydney Opera House – Travelnuity

Shandos: “If you’ve visited or lived in Sydney, you have undoubtedly ticked-off seeing the Sydney Opera House. And taken photos or two, its whitish tiles shimmering in the bright sunlight. But, to truly appreciate the Opera House, you need to step inside and watch a show.

It’s home to companies ranging from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra to The Australian Ballet, not to mention Opera Australia. But if something classical is not to your taste, there’s also everything ranging from contemporary music shows to circus and cabaret to talks. With multiple varied sized theatres, there’s something happening every night.

And it needn’t cost you the earth. While premier tickets are certainly expensive, tickets to opera and orchestral performances start from around $40, as long as you’re satisfied with a partial or distant view of the stage. A glass of bubbles during intermission is the final touch.”

A typical Sydney Brunch – Birdgehls

LC: “Australians are passionate about brunch – so if you want to “do as the locals do”, get yourself to a local café on a Sunday morning. Order your beverage of choice and a plate of smashed avocado or Eggs Benedict and dig in!

Make sure you get there early, as patrons may spend hours lounging in their seats, catching up with friends or family over a morning meal before departing. If you don’t snag a chair, you may end up lining up outside for quite some time!

My favourite place to brunch is Kepos Street Kitchen in Redfern and nearby The Grounds in Alexandria is also very good. However, if you wander up Crown St in Surry Hills, or King St/Enmore Rd, you’re bound to find somewhere and something to eat.”

Sailing out on a cruise ship – Albom Adventures

Rhonda: “Sailing out of Sydney, I catch one final view of the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, and the end of a beautiful spring day.

I love visiting Sydney, and whenever possible we choose the ferry for transport. The shoreline is magical, and Sydney boasts one world’s most beautiful harbours. If I am ever lucky enough to live here, I hope to spend a lot more time out on the water. On this particular day, we were higher up than normal as I took this shot from an upper deck of a cruise ship.”

Balmoral Beach – Frugal First Class Travel

Jo: “While tourists flock to Bondi and the nearby Manly, it’s Balmoral Beach that holds local Sydneysiders’ hearts. Located on a quiet bay within Sydney Harbour, Balmoral is one of Sydney’s hidden gem beaches.

On the weekend locals walk their dogs (schnauzers and golden retrievers feature strongly), kids ride their scooters and dig in the sand. The regulars swim their “laps” of the beach and work on their suntans while diners feast in the beach front restaurants. When you visit Balmoral’s very own island, keep an eye out for the local rabbits – yes, rabbits a mere 8km from central Sydney.

But where will you find me at Balmoral? Sharing my fish and chips from the best “fish shop” in Sydney with some of the local seagulls!”

All photos (except the brunch photo) supplied by the contributors. Brunch photo supplied by Happiness and Things. Many thanks!

Hello! My name is Silke. Looking for inspiration and information for your next trip? You've come to the right place! Happiness and Things is my travel blog about the unforgettable places I've seen around the world. After 13 years in Sydney and Andalusia, I now live in Berlin, Germany. I am a travel writer, translator and book author. Read more about it here.

About Me

Hello! My name is Silke. Looking for inspiration and information for your next trip? You've come to the right place! Happiness and Things is my travel blog about the unforgettable places I've seen around the world. After 13 years in Sydney and Andalusia, I now live in Berlin, Germany. I am a travel writer, translator and book author. Read more about it here.